BIG coalition namibia

The proposal for a Basic Income Grant (BIG) in Namibia was made in 2002 by the Namibian Tax Consortium (NAMTAX), a government appointed commission. The consortium made the proposal for a Basic Income Grant in light of the high poverty levels and the unequal distribution of income (income inequality) in Namibia.

The Basic Income Grant campaign aims at achieving the introduction of a Basic Income Grant in Namibia. It is to date the biggest civil society project united in fighting poverty and work towards economic empowerment in Namibia. In April 2005, a broad-based civil society coalition consisting of the Council of Churches, the umbrella body of the NGOs (NANGOF), the umbrella body of the AIDS organisations (NANASO), the Union Federation (NUNW), the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) and the Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI) have formed a coalition to advocate the implementation of the BIG in Namibia. The Secretariat of the Coalition is hosted by Desk for Social Development (ELCRN), which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the campaign. The BIG Coalition is now implementing the first ever pilot project of a BIG in Namibia.